Tim Bartley
- Published in print:
- 2018
- Published Online:
- March 2018
- ISBN:
- 9780198794332
- eISBN:
- 9780191835841
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780198794332.003.0005
- Subject:
- Political Science, International Relations and Politics
This chapter considers the concrete implications of labor-related corporate social responsibility (CSR) in consumer products industries in China. As China became the “factory to the world” the ...
More
This chapter considers the concrete implications of labor-related corporate social responsibility (CSR) in consumer products industries in China. As China became the “factory to the world” the discourse and practice of CSR greatly expanded. But restrictions on workers’ rights, the marginal status of migrant workers, and a “dormitory labor regime” that facilitates long working hours are difficult to square with global norms. Using qualitative evidence from interviews, the chapter reveals problems with factory auditing and corporate compliance initiatives that have allowed exploitative practices to continue despite the embrace of CSR. Using quantitative data on a sample of workers and factories in Guangdong province, the chapter examines the practical implications of SA8000 certification and other private standards. In several ways, the chapter shows how compliance with private rules has been redefined to be compatible with the repressive Chinese context.Less
This chapter considers the concrete implications of labor-related corporate social responsibility (CSR) in consumer products industries in China. As China became the “factory to the world” the discourse and practice of CSR greatly expanded. But restrictions on workers’ rights, the marginal status of migrant workers, and a “dormitory labor regime” that facilitates long working hours are difficult to square with global norms. Using qualitative evidence from interviews, the chapter reveals problems with factory auditing and corporate compliance initiatives that have allowed exploitative practices to continue despite the embrace of CSR. Using quantitative data on a sample of workers and factories in Guangdong province, the chapter examines the practical implications of SA8000 certification and other private standards. In several ways, the chapter shows how compliance with private rules has been redefined to be compatible with the repressive Chinese context.
Tim Bartley
- Published in print:
- 2018
- Published Online:
- March 2018
- ISBN:
- 9780198794332
- eISBN:
- 9780191835841
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780198794332.003.0006
- Subject:
- Political Science, International Relations and Politics
This chapter examines codes of conduct and factory certification in the Indonesian apparel and footwear industry. With democratization, independent unions, and relatively progressive law on the ...
More
This chapter examines codes of conduct and factory certification in the Indonesian apparel and footwear industry. With democratization, independent unions, and relatively progressive law on the books, Indonesia seemed poised for the growth of responsible factories. And yet certification to the leading standard (SA8000) proved rare. Unions and labor NGOs engaged in bottom-up monitoring of codes of conduct, using the reputations of Nike, Adidas, and other brands as leverage. But the modest improvements that followed were overshadowed by the loss of orders and the migration of the industry within and across national borders. Ironically, while factory-centered labor standards have been fairly weak, the Indonesian labor movement has proven stronger than expected in other arenas. Using qualitative and quantitative evidence, this chapter reveals the muted significance of codes of conduct, the ways in which activists sought to amplify them, and the reasons for their limited success.Less
This chapter examines codes of conduct and factory certification in the Indonesian apparel and footwear industry. With democratization, independent unions, and relatively progressive law on the books, Indonesia seemed poised for the growth of responsible factories. And yet certification to the leading standard (SA8000) proved rare. Unions and labor NGOs engaged in bottom-up monitoring of codes of conduct, using the reputations of Nike, Adidas, and other brands as leverage. But the modest improvements that followed were overshadowed by the loss of orders and the migration of the industry within and across national borders. Ironically, while factory-centered labor standards have been fairly weak, the Indonesian labor movement has proven stronger than expected in other arenas. Using qualitative and quantitative evidence, this chapter reveals the muted significance of codes of conduct, the ways in which activists sought to amplify them, and the reasons for their limited success.
